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Coordinates: 0°0′0″N 0°0′0″E 0, 0

Stanton College Preparatory School

• Location & Contact Information
  • Address, Directions, & Map:
    • 1149 West 13th Street, Jacksonville, Florida, United States of America
  • Telephone Numbers: 604-630-6760
  • Official Website: [1]
• History & Memorable Moments

Shortly after Emancipation, a group of African Americans from Jacksonville organized the Education Society and in 1868, purchased the property on which the Old Stanton school now resides. It was their purpose and intent to erect on the property a school building to be known as the Florida Institute. Financial problems, however, delayed progress on the building until December of that year when the first school was built and incorporated through the aid of the Freedman's Bureau. The school was a wooden structure and was named in honor of General Edwin McMasters Stanton, President Abraham Lincoln's Secretary of War. He was an ardent champion of human rights and an advocate of free formal education for Negro boys and girls. It was the first school of education for black children in Jacksonville and its surrounding counties, and was the first school for black children in the State of Florida. ^[1]

For a number of years, the Freedman's Bureau conducted the school. Northern white teachers were employed until the county leased the property for the purpose of opening a public school. The first building was destroyed by fire in 1882. Another building constructed the same year was also destroyed by fire on May 3, 1901, a fire that destroyed much of Jacksonville. A new school was constructed in 1902 and remained in operation until 1917. Originally the school mascot had been the Blue Devil. Because the school had burned and been rebuilt twice, the Phoenix rising from ashes would eventually be adopted as a second mascot. Today both mascots are used. ^[1]

On May 23, 1914, the Circuit Court of Duval County appointed nine trustees to manage the school and its property. They included Robert B. Archibald, S. H. Hart, A. L. Lewis, J. W. Floyd, W. L. Girardeau, I. L. Purcell, B. C. Vanderhorst, J. E. Spearing, and W.H. H. Styles. Archibaid and Hart resigned and were replaced by J. M. Baker and L. H. Myers. Upon Girardeau's subsequent death, J. Salem took over as head trustee. ^[1]

The deteriorating and unsafe condition of the poorly constructed school building prompted the Board of Public Instruction, the Stanton School trustees, and interested citizens of Jacksonville, to jointly agree to replace the wooden structure with a good fire-proof building. In 1917, the building, which stands at Ashley, Broad, Beaver, and Clay Streets, was completed. Stanton became the main focus for the education of black children in Duval County and the surrounding areas. ^[1]

An equally impressive record of academic expansion has accomplished the physical growth of Stanton. Beginning as an elementary school with six grades under the administration of J. C. Waters as the first principal and D. W. Gulp who followed as principal, Stanton gradually became known throughout the state for the high educational standards which it still maintains today. The eighth grade was added under the principalship of W. M. Artrell. Principal James Weldon Johnson started the move toward a high school department. The addition of the twelfth grade made Stanton an elementary, junior, and senior high school. ^[1]

Stanton continued as a school for all grades through the administration of I. A. Blocker, G. M. Sampson and J. N. Wilson. In 1938, with F. J. Anderson as principal, Stanton became a senior high school exclusively. J. L. Terry served as the last principal of Stanton Senior High School, #101. ^[1]

In 1953, the Stanton Senior School name was transferred to a new facility on 13th Street and was re-named New Stanton Senior High School. Charles D. Brooks was the first principal of the "new" school. Under his principalship, Stanton continued to foster the same traditionally high standards which befit its rich heritage and flourished as the oldest and most important high school for blacks in Jacksonville. ^[1]

Beginning in 1953, the Board and Ashley Street facility became known as "Old" Stanton. The Old Stanton building was used as a junior high school in 1953-1954. In August 1954, it was converted into Stanton Vocational High School and functioned as a vocational training center, adjusting its curriculum to train and graduate students in technical skills of the day. At night, it became a center for the Adult and Veterans Education Program. ^[1]

From 1969-1971, the focus of New Stanton Senior High School began to change from academic to vocational under the principal-ship of Ben Durham, the former principal of Stanton Vocational High School. In 1971, the Old Stanton High School building was again placed under control of the trustees of Stanton and the student body was transferred to New Stanton Senior High School where the revised curriculum now provided for both the academic and the vocational interests of the students. ^[1]

In 1981, Stanton College Preparatory School became the Duval County School System's first magnet school. Beginning with grades 7-10, and adding one grade level each succeeding year, the first senior class of 54 students graduated in 1984. Stanton College Preparatory School now serves secondary students living within the 841 square miles of the Duval County school district and leads the Duval County Public Schools in academic achievement. ^[1]

In 2001, 2003, and 2007, the school's newspaper, the Devil's Advocate, under the advisorship of Larry Knight, won the Florida Times Union award for most outstanding newspaper in Jacksonville. The paper won the overall 2nd place award in 2004 and the overall 3rd place award in 2005. This paper, which prides itself with a lengthy journalistic tradition dating back to 1981, has most recently established a Devil's Advocate blogsite where readers can post their comments to a variety of articles, specialty features, and photographs. As a result of the journalism program instituted at Stanton, a number of alumni have chosen to major in the field of journalism and currently maintain professional careers as journalists. ^[1]

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  • Butler, Joe (August 1980 - May 2002)
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  • Shreve, Carlan R (August 1981 - May 2002)
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